Classic SI Photos of Roberto Clemente

A 12-time All-Star, Roberto Clemente also won 12 Gold Gloves, two World Series titles, four batting titles and the 1966 NL MVP award. The Puerto Rican star's abilities as a player — his sensational throwing, his acrobatic fielding, his relentless hitting (.317 lifetime average) — overpowered the prejudice against Latin American players. On Dec. 31, 1972, he insisted on flying to Nicaragua to deliver supplies to victims of an earthquake, but his plane crashed and he died at just 38. A few months after his death, Clemente, whose 3,000th hit on Sept. 30, 1972, turned out to be his last, was elected to the Hall of Fame. We present these classic SI photos of Pittsburgh's legendary rightfielder, who was born on Aug. 18, 1934.

A 12-time All-Star, Roberto Clemente also won 12 Gold Gloves, two World Series titles, four batting titles and the 1966 NL MVP award. The Puerto Rican star's abilities as a player — his sensational throwing, his acrobatic fielding, his relentless hitting (.317 lifetime average) — overpowered the prejudice against Latin American players. On Dec. 31, 1972, he insisted on flying to Nicaragua to deliver supplies to victims of an earthquake, but his plane crashed and he died at just 38. A few months after his death, Clemente, whose 3,000th hit on Sept. 30, 1972, turned out to be his last, was elected to the Hall of Fame. We present these classic SI photos of Pittsburgh's legendary rightfielder, who was born on Aug. 18, 1934.

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August 18, 2014

1 of 24Mark Kauffman

1956

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2 of 24Neil Leifer

1960 World Series

with Yogi Berra

3 of 24Neil Leifer

1961

with Joe Adcock

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4 of 24Neil Leifer

1966

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5 of 24Walter Iooss Jr.

1967

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6 of 24Walter Iooss Jr.

1967

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7 of 24Neil Leifer

1968

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8 of 24Neil Leifer

1968

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9 of 24Neil Leifer

1968

with trainer

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10 of 24Neil Leifer

1968

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11 of 24Neil Leifer

1968

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12 of 24Neil Leifer

1968

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13 of 24Neil Leifer

1968

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14 of 24Neil Leifer

1968

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15 of 24Neil Leifer

1969

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16 of 24Tony Triolo

1970

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17 of 24Tony Triolo

1971 World Series

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18 of 24Walter Iooss Jr.

1971 World Series

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19 of 24Walter Iooss Jr.

1971 World Series

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20 of 24Walter Iooss Jr.

1971 World Series

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21 of 24Neil Leifer

1972

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22 of 24Neil Leifer

1972

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23 of 24Neil Leifer

1972

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24 of 24Neil Leifer

1972

with sons Luis Roberto, Roberto Jr., and Enrique Roberto

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